Sometimes your itinerary only allows a few days or a weekend to be a tourist on Ireland’s West Coast. In that case, you could do worse than making the quaint village of Cong your destination. On the border between counties Galway and Mayo, it is picturesque on a grand scale and we love it. You can fill your days with natural beauty, angling, hiking, or exploring Cong’s long history. Here we share what we think are the five best things to do and see in a weekend in Cong.
For food and drink, Cong is blessed with many wonderful pubs, restaurants and coffee shops. So you cannot go wrong here, really. Not only for good nosh, but also for accommodation, you have a great selection of hotels, guest houses and self-catering accommodation, plus an amazing hostel by the lake.
What To See And Do In A Weekend In Cong?
1. Fishing
Cong sits pretty in the historical woodland of Ireland’s Lake District. As such, it is perfectly situated between two of the best wild brown trout fisheries in Ireland and Europe, Loughs Corrib and Mask. Anglers consider Cong their paradise and flock here from all over the world for the fishing season, which is February to September.
Is Fishing In Cong River and Lough Corrib Free?
The village actually lies on an island with streams surrounding it on all sides. Fishing at the top end of the Cong River is free. As the river flows into Lough Corrib at Ashford Castle, fishing permit for the estate owners’ beat is necessary.
Fishing on Lough Corrib is also free. For that, you can hire a boat in a number of locations around the lake. To get the most of your angling experience in Cong, consider recruiting a ghillie with centuries of local fishing knowledge. Ask for recommendations either at the boat stations or at your accommodation.
2. Royal Abbey Of Cong
Back in 627 AD, Saint Féchin reportedly fell for the natural beauty of the area. So much so that he founded a monastery here. He called it Cung, a Gaelic word meaning ‘narrow’. Most likely taking cue from the location, the strip of land between the two great Western lakes. The settlement’s name was therefore Cunga Féichin, Féichin’s Narrow.
However, no trace remains today of Féchin’s sanctuary by the river. After a turbulent history, Turlough O’Connor, High King of Ireland, re-founded it in 1138 as the Royal Abbey. Whether you are interested in history or not, you cannot help but admire the majestic remains of this Augustinian abbey. These beautiful early gothic ruins with intricate and delicate stone work date from the 13th century.
Feel free to walk around the monastic cloisters to enjoy the sense of serenity in the space. You can almost hear the psalm-chanting monks living and working here in Ireland’s golden age. Besides, the Abbey is connected to the forest trails and as such is a great starting point of nature hikes.
3. The Quiet Man Locations Tour
In more modern times, you have probably heard of Cong in connection with John Ford’s Oscar-winning movie The Quiet Man. If there was one single event that launched the pretty village onto the world stage, it was the making of the film here in 1951. The cast included John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Ward Bond, Victor McLaglan and Barry Fitzgerald. Plus many of the locals were extras in the film. Today, you can snap a picture of yourself with the life size bronze statue of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, commissioned by Cong residents in 2013.
Will I Enjoy The Quiet Man Museum?
If you’re a fan of the film, John Ford, John Wayne or the other actors, you will definitely enjoy a visit to The Quiet Man Museum. Because it is full to the rafters of memorabilia and curios. This charming little museum is in a reconstructed The Quiet Man cottage. Interestingly, the interior scenes were shot in the US, so in fact, you are visiting a recreation of the American film set. Even so, it really feels like a step back in time.
Similarly, you can book a tour of The Quiet Man locations at the Museum. We did not do that as we are interested but not hard-core fans. But plenty of others had a great time retracing the Hollywood stars’ footsteps. Pre-booking the tour is a good idea, as it was very popular when we were there – a weekend in Summer.
4. Ashford Castle – Luxury For Your Weekend In Cong
Much of The Quiet Man filming took place on the grounds of Ashford Castle. It is a luxurious hotel, one of Ireland’s (and Europe’s) best. The cast of The Quiet Man stayed here while filming. Not bad at all! The castle is steeped in history – its earliest part dates to 1228. It used to be the stronghold of the De Burgos, a family very much part of the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland in the 12th century. In 1715, Lord Oranmore and Browne built a French style shooting lodge on the site. And in 1852, the Guinness family of the famous Dublin brewery bought the castle and set about renovating it. For many years thereafter, Ashford became their country escape.
Many celebrities have visited Cong and Ashford Castle over the years, including President and Mrs Reagan, Princess Grace and Prince Rainier of Monaco, King George V, Senator Ted Kennedy, John Lennon, Brad Pitt, Robin Williams, Pierce Brosnan and others. Consequently, if you have the means to stay here, you will not be disappointed as it is the best accommodation for miles.
Is Ashford Castle Open To The Public?
The castle is today reserved for the residents of the hotel. We were lucky a few years ago to be able to walk around the grounds and the gardens when they were still open to the public. Even then though, we did not get to see the interior. The public used to be able to make a meal reservation in the castle’s restaurant, which was also the best opportunity to see the inside. Sadly, the residents only policy now, in 2024, extends over the whole estate. Nevertheless, it is worth keeping an eye on the castle website, as policies can change depending on security around high-profile guests, time of the year, how busy they are, etc. Fingers crossed.
5. Boat Tour To End Your Weekend In Cong
Still, you can enjoy the beauty of Ashford Castle estate from the river. The Isle of Inisfree passenger boat has several daily departures from Lisloughrey Pier in Cong. The cruise’s highlights are Ashford Castle, Connemara mountains and 365 magical wooded islands.
The boat’s captain gives a detailed local commentary throughout. What’s more, there is a bar on board so you can have an Irish coffee while taking in the sights. Corrib Cruises offer different types of cruises starting from 1hr duration and E10 cost. We highly recommend them as we had a great time.
Finally, that concludes our top five suggestions for what to do and see. We hope you have the best weekend in Cong. Enjoy!